Not to steal the thunder from what promises to be an unforgettable Coachella Weekend 2, but Ranger Dave announced this week a phenomenal lineup for the Fifth Anniversary of San Francisco’s Outside Lands! It’s difficult to top a line-up when your first ever appearance as a festival boasted the likes of Radiohead, Wilco, and Cake. However, this year’s curators did a great job of assembling acts sure to attract fans from many, many different walks of life. Hit the jump to find out who you simply cannot miss this year!
The top-five billed acts alone exemplify the diversity that will grace Golden Gate Park August 10-12 this year. Headliners Metallica (what?!), Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Jack White, and Foo Fighters touch pretty much every generation of music fans. Last year, Foo Fighters were one of the best acts at Lollapalooza, and we expect no less from them at Outside Lands. The ever-enigmatic Jack White has been touring with his multitude of side projects since The White Stripes’ demise, but his solo-set is still an unexplored avenue of his repertoire. Admittedly, this Rabbit is not the world’s biggest Metallica fan, but hey, that they can still pull the first listed spot speaks wonders of their ability to draw in fans near and far. And, of course, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young will pull the wino crowd that supports the gourmet food vendors at Outside Lands. Don’t misinterpret–that is not a knock on their musical legacies, and they are sure to make the fifth Outside Lands a great set.
Perhaps more impressive than the headliners this year are the supporting acts. After a six-year hiatus, Grandaddy are yet another band to jump on the 2012 reunion train (hello, At The Drive-In and Refused). Take this opportunity to catch the indie-institution, as the group has stated they are only appearing at a limited number of shows. As if Grandaddy weren’t enough to draw you out from the corner of your local, free-range, organic coffee shop, Outside Lands also snagged Beck, Sigur Ros, Andrew Bird, Father John Misty, 2012 festival mainstays Explosions In The Sky, Dr. Dog, The Walkmen, City and Colour, Caveman, and Yellow Ostrich.
For fans of dancing and grooving, Fitz and the Tantrums take on another festival with Outside Lands. And if you need some rib-shattering bass drops to get you moving, Skrillex has you–and every 13-year-old girl in a fifty mile radius–covered. Additional support to the EDM genre include Justice, Santigold, MSTRKRFT, Washed Out, Mimosa, and Yacht.
Additional taste-transcendent (multi-generation friendly?) support comes from Norah Jones, Regina Spektor, Passion Pit, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and Fun. Other notable acts include The Kills, Die Antwoord, Portugal. The Man, Two Gallants, Tame Impala, and Thee Oh Sees.
After Big Boi‘s infamous non-performance at Outside Lands 2011, Rabbits Black is surprised Ranger Dave even bothered to book him again. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Ok, to be fair, rather than a handful of the best acts, that is about 75% of Outside Lands’ line up… but that’s just how great this year’s bill is! If you missed your chance to grab an Eager Beaver ticket, fret not. Three-day passes go on sale TODAY, starting at $195, incrementally increasing to $225 until sold out. Although Ranger Dave historically offers one-day passes closer to the festival, given this year’s unprecedented festival sell out rates, be sure to hop over and grab yourself a pass if you want to check out the diverse and impressive collection of performers at Outside Lands.
With Coachella’s mid-weekend side shows, and Outside Lands’ history of one-off performances, expect Ranger Dave to announce some great post-festival shows over the summer.
What sets Outside Lands apart from other festivals is not the lineup–many of these performers are frequenting the festival circuit this year. It’s the whole experience unique to San Francisco. Ranger Dave consciously refrains from booking typical festival foods, and instead rents tents to local culinary institutions. Outside Lands isn’t just about the music; it’s about an offbeat culture that manages to unite unique interests from all walks of life (is my Bay Area bias showing?). From world-renowned chefs, to legendary musicians, to locals’ favorite Off the Grid food trucks, to the next big act, Outside Lands has something to offer everyone.
Check back often as Rabbits Black will be your source for all things Outside Lands! We’ll have special goodies for you leading up to August 10-12, and throughout that weekend.
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